urgent: need help with my chameleon (again)?

Question

Well, at first I thought he was just dehydrated. His eyes are sunken in and if you lightly pinch his skin it doesn't go back to normal right away .. Which is usually signs of dehydration. I sprayed him alot with warm water and he did drink it. Now, he has no grip and can't even climb. I had to put his heat lamp on the ground and if I try to put him on a log he just falls down on his side and doesn't move until I move him. I'm pretty sure he may be dying but I have no money for a vet. Does anybody know what's wrong or what I can maybe do?
Also I don't think he's been eating, when I tried hand feeding him a cricket he wouldn't eat it.

Answer 1

Since you are not going to the vet, start a shower with warm water. Set him on a branch(or on a stool) so he gets the warm mist and splashings of the shower water. Leave him there for 10-15 minutes at least. This usually helped my chameleon get better.

How much are you feeding him and what? He needs dusted crickets or doesn't get enough nutrition, and my vieled one ate about 24 a day, we would go through 1000 crickets a month, 30 silkworms, and 15 meal worms.

He sounds sick- how long has he not been eating? Has he been pooping? He could be constipated, especially if cold or fed too many insects with a hard body (roaches, mealworms).

Really, the only thing to try if you are not going to the vet is a nice long warm shower- the humidity and warm water should activiate him, if anything will work.

veiled chameleons need a temp gradient of 60- 85 degrees, humidty around 70-90% and lots of water.

If they are missing any of those, they can get sick easily- chameleons are not a beginners pet.

Answer 2

Do you use a UVB bulb? If not, this could be the problem. I've seen it happen a lot, people bring me their lizards and they're skinny and refusing to eat, can't even move. It's called metabolic bone disease. If you aren't using sufficient UVB lighting, then your chameleon won't be able to make Vitamin D3 and won't be able to metabolize calcium. Eventually the calcium is leeched from the bones of the animal, making their bones very rubbery, and leaving the animal unable to move (and also unable to eat as the jaw is so soft). You should get it to the vet right away! MBD can sometimes be reversed, although if that's what your chameleon has, it sounds pretty advanced.

Answer 3

Chameleons are not cheap animals to take care of. They need large screened enclosures, a humidity source (they rarely drink from bowls), a heat lamp with a basking temp up to 95F, and a UVB reptile bulb within 12 inches of basking is crucial to survival. Insects must be properly fed and dusted with Calcium/D3 several times a week and a multi-vitamin once a week. Call a reptile vet and see if you can turn him over to a rescue that may be able to save him. He sounds like he's in pretty bad shape.

Answer 4

hmm, i would assume he is dying as well. poor little guy. does he have a water dish to drink in his cage? make sure it is easily acceable to reach and find. another problem could deff be lack of heat. make sure his air temp is where it should be. i would damp a towel with warm water and cover about half the lid of the tank. also make sure he is getting equal day and night light. many reptiles are a lot more active during the night time so thats when he will prolly eat and drink the most. use a night bulb at nights so he still gets the heat but thinks its night time. i hope he gets better :[

Answer 5

unfortunately, the news does not seem to be a very good one.
Are you sure going to the vet is absolutely out of question?

Sorry to be pessimistic... but i think that your pet might not survive. The only thing you can do is keep him as comfortable as possible.

Answer 6

This is a very good site....

http://www.chameleonforums.com/